Reading Planet Rocket Phonics is a DfE approved SSP programme by Abigail Steel. The programme focuses on mastery, and has a ‘keep up, not catch up’ philosophy. It progresses through phoneme-grapheme correspondences with steady pace and progression. Time is spent securing and applying knowledge as it is learned, through the provision of carefully aligned practice in multiple domains of literacy (oral, spelling and reading).

In 2021, Rising Stars launched a two-year Impact Trial working with two independent evaluators (Professor Clare Wood, Nottingham Trent University and Dr Helen Breadmore, Associate Professor Psychology in Education, University of Birmingham) to measure the impact of the programme on pupils' reading attainment. 

This interim evaluation report focuses on measuring the impact of the programme during the first year of implementation of Rocket Phonics across Reception and Year One using attainment data (New PiRA scores), teacher interviews, surveys and observations.

Read the Interim Evaluation Report

Read the Interim Evaluation Report

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Interim Report Highlights

  • - Reception children showed promising signs of progress in both reading attainment and phonics
    knowledge

  • - Reception children using Rocket Phonics attained around 5 or 6 standardised scores more than children in the control schools in their New PiRA reading tests and, on average, reading ages were comparatively higher by a few months’ in spring and indicating a 10-month difference by the summer.

  •  - All participating teachers agreed that they would recommend Rocket Phonics to other schools.

Interim Report Highlights

About Rocket Phonics

Rocket Phonics is a DfE approved phonics programme by expert Abigail Steel. We approach phonics differently to ensure every child keeps up and not catches up.

Discover the programme

About New PiRA

Termly tests enabling you to reliably benchmark performance and track progress against national averages in reading. Standardised on over 10,000 pupils in 2019-2021.

Discover PiRa
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